Victim in deadly Paulding shooting may have been targeted, sheriff says

Deputies in Paulding County are investigating a deadly shooting Friday. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

Deputies in Paulding County are investigating a deadly shooting Friday. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)

A shooting that left a man dead in the foyer of his home does not appear to be a random act of violence, the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office said Friday afternoon.

Deputies went to the 500 block of Crestbend Lane about 12:39 a.m. after receiving a shots fired call, Sgt. Ashley Henson said.

“When deputies arrived on scene,” he said, “they made contact with the female homeowner, who was extremely distraught.”

Inside the home, authorities found the woman’s 34-year-old husband dead and no signs of forced entry.

A baby and a small child were in the home as well, according to Channel 2 Action News. Officials have not detailed the relationship between the couple and the children.

Paulding called in Cobb County authorities to provide police dogs to assist in the search for the people involved in the shooting. GBI agents assisted in the investigation, too.

The woman was taken in for questioning. She told authorities “an unknown number of males got into an altercation with the victim which ultimately ended in gunfire,” Henson said.

Multiple shots were fired, the sheriff’s office said.

While “details in the case are developing and various leads are still being investigated,” Henson said detectives are pretty sure about one thing: “The victim appeared to have been targeted by the suspects.”

The victim’s name was not released pending notification of next of kin.

His wife returned to the home with other family members about 7:50 a.m. She is not considered a suspect at this time.

“She is cooperating,” Henson told Channel 2, “but at this point we don't know how many people we are looking for.”

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call 770-443-3015.